Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-07-07
STORIES ABOUT HORSES.
Illustrations of Their Intelligence
and Affection.
Seeming Indians Affair OH-Mischievous
..Dick" and Jim" How the Miners
..Best Friend" Saved the Life
of His Master.

m the autumn of 1882, the writer, in
company with an officer Of the army,
was riding along trail which led
through one of the detached mountain
ranges that border the White Mount
aims, or San Carlos Indian Reserva-
ton. Having reached an open part of
the trail, the horses were walking along
at brisk pace, when, upon turning an
abrupt angle, which opened upon an
extended and magnificent scene. both
horses SHE'D, stopped short, and, with
heads high in air and nostrils distended,
evinced unrnistakable signs of fear.
The officer, who was an experienced
frontiersman. experimenting the cause.
quickly exclaimed: ''Be on your
guard, there are Indians hereabouts;
the horses smell them"
Realizing that it would be rs safe,
perhaps, for us to remain where we
were as it would be to turn back, we
began accommodating, our horses, mean
time, manifestlng great uneasiness.
Catching the drift of the wind, and
looking carefully and anxiously in that
direction, we soon discovered the cause
of the alarm-an Apache buck and two
sIuaws seated upon broken crag sew
eral hundred yards above us, each as
silent and motionless us the rock upon
which they We're reclining. The In
dians seemed to be friendly, and, in
response to signal from the officer.
clambercd down the mountain to
where we stood, when it was found
that they were a nut-gathering party.
They informed us, by means of signs
and a few broken expressions which
the officer understood. that they had
discovered us at point several miles
distant, and had selected convenient
position from which they could watch
our movements unobServed. But for
the sagacity of our horses they doubt
less would have remained unseen by
lis. Our horses. the officer informed
me, were veteran Indian fighters, hav-
ing participated in several campaigns
against the Apaches, and could
''scent" an Indian at a great distance
when the usually keen sense of hearing
failed to detect the presence of an
enemy.
A party of miners. not far from the
city of Tucson. have a team of horses
named Dick and Jim" Dick is
the older, and. probably on that ac-
count preSumes to direct the course of
his younger companion. During the
night the horses Craze in the vicinity
of the cabin occupied by the miners,
and rs day begins to break they APP
proach quite close to the house, where
they linger until the men make their
appearance. Should the services of
the horses be required. the men are
particular to 60 forth with nose-bag.
at the sight of which the animals suffer
themselves to be caught; but if. instead
of nose-bag. a bride or rope should
be taken. old Dick is sure to kick up
his heels and run away. Not content
to go alone. he will drive Jim away
also. biting him if he does not move
promptly. and thus. for n considerable
time, will nischievously avoid his
owners. After awhile, as if satisfied
with their frolic. the horses will return
to the cabin of their own accord. allow
themselves to be saddled or hitched to
the wagon. and throughout the day
will work faithfully.
But the most remarkable trait of
these horses is their habit of eating any
thing and every thing which comes
from the table. One evening. not long
ago, while on 4 visit to the camp. 1 OBJ
served one of the men who cleared of
the supper table. put the unconsumed
portions of the meal-consisting of
bread, potatoes. fried bacon. gravy and
baked beans-into the horses nose
bags and afterwards add quantity of
potato parings, rinds of smoked bacon
and other ''raw materials"
Not seeing any dog or chickens
about. inquired what he intended to
do with the hotch-potch. and was sur
prised at his reply: Feed it to the
horses"
Seeing that he was in earnest. went
with him and was still more surprised
to see both horses devour the '.cold !
yictuals" with as much apparent relish